Rare French Bisque Bebe by Pierre-Victor Clement with Deposed Hollow Leather Body

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17" (43 cm.) Pressed bisque socket head with very distinctive portrait-like expression, very high domed forehead, plump cheeks and chin, blue glass spiral-threaded eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, mauve-blushed eye shadow, cheek and chin blush, aquiline-shaped nose with defined pointy tip, shaded nostrils, closed mouth, outlined lips, impressed dimples at lip corners, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, molded hollow ("blown") leather body in classic bebe proportions with dowel jointing at shoulders, elbows, side hips and side knees, well-defined fingers and toes, impressed knuckles. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Pierre-Victor Clement, who deposed the body for his hollow-leather body poupee in 1867; the body for this bebe model is constructed in the same method as the poupee body only having childlike proportions rather than the taller and more slender lady body. Clement, a shoemaker by original trade, conceived the idea of creating a "blown out" or hollow leather doll body, created in a manner similar to shoe production. Circa 1875. Value Points: extremely rare, only one other model of this bebe is known to exist. Condition: superb original condition with perfectly-preserved unique body, beautiful expression and bisque, lovely antique costume including cream cashmere dress with lace trim, undergarments, woven stockings, cream kidskin shoes with silk rosettes, woven bonnet with silk lining, and carrying a woven basket with attached silk flowers and ferns.